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Cheap Wide Angle Zoom?

ShepProudfoot
Posted 15/02/2013 - 14:36 Link
Hello,

I can't seem to get a decent picture out of the 18-55mm kit lens, for my K-R, and was thinking of replacing with a cheapish wide angle zoom.

I have a DA 35mm 2.4, A 50mm 1.7 and DA 50-200mm, all of which I'm happy with, so was thinking of something in the 17-35mm range.

SRS have a used Sigma 17-35mm f2.8-4 with 12 month warranty for £169.99, and I saw a Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 used in excellent condition for £90.

Anyone any experience of these two, or of something better in the same price range?

Cheers,

Neil
Pentax K-R, DA35mm f2.4, DA 16-45mm f4 and DA L 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6
Edited by ShepProudfoot: 15/02/2013 - 14:37
RAB
Posted 15/02/2013 - 15:19 - Helpful Comment Link
I cant speak for the lenses you mention, but I bought a Sigma 10-20 f4 - 5.6 from a fellow forum member a few months ago (thanks Eddie)and I love it. Image quality is superb throughout the zoom range.

They seem to be changing hands for around £250 these days however new ones are reducing all the time too. It might be worth holding out to see if second hand prices drop.
"He's not the Messiah, ..."
johnriley
Posted 15/02/2013 - 15:49 - Helpful Comment Link
I'm wondering why you can't get a decent picture from the 18-55mm, which is a good lens capable of good results. It may be damaged or a poor example.

It might be worth trying another 18-55mm if possible.

For about £150 you might find a used Pentax 16-45mm f/4 lens. If so, it's a uperb optic and would be an excellent upgrade.
Best regards, John
ShepProudfoot
Posted 15/02/2013 - 15:59 Link
I can't see many used Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 about, maybe that's a sign that their owners are very happy with them. Some amazing samples on the other site, and great user reviews.

The price new is way out of my budget.
Pentax K-R, DA35mm f2.4, DA 16-45mm f4 and DA L 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6
Hardgravity
Posted 15/02/2013 - 16:10 - Helpful Comment Link
Keep looking, the Sigma's a cracking lens and well worth the cash and the wait.

Mine was bought on a whim (the price was right!:blush and has seen a fair amount of use.

Be aware that as a walk about lens their great for architecture, but not that good for portraits.
Cheers, HG

K110+DA40, K200+DA35, K3 and a bag of lenses, bodies and other bits.

Mustn't forget the Zenits, or folders, or...

PPG entries.
wvbarnes
Posted 15/02/2013 - 16:10 - Helpful Comment Link
Hi, It is of concern that you can not get a good image out of the kit lens as it's one of the best. John is right try another (swap if under warranty). 18mm is pretty good for a lot of landscapes an you of course tend to stop down to the lenses optimum for lndscapes any way.

I had the Sigma 10 -20 F4.- F5.6 and have had some excellent landscapes from it(a number on my gallery on here). It was heavy though (the nature of such a lens for APS-C) so sold it on as others have for £250. I've see the lens new for as little as £320. There is also a newer constant F3.5 version with High Speed motor rather than screw drive.

I'm currently playing with my beautiful tiny 15mm DA Ltd I bought off here. I have the 18 - 135 DA WR for general use.
Edited by wvbarnes: 15/02/2013 - 16:10
ilovesaabs
Posted 15/02/2013 - 16:13 Link
Ideally you need to wind your clock back to summer 2009, travel through heathrow terminal 5 and pick up a Samsung SA 12-24 f4 - it's the same as the DA 12-24 but with minor cosmetic differences.

Price of the DA12-24 skyrocketed to around £900 in 2010-11 but I, along with a number of members, picked the SA 12-24 for £190
AKA Welshwizard/PWynneJ
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff
Northgrain
Posted 15/02/2013 - 16:16 - Helpful Comment Link
ShepProudfoot wrote:
I can't see many used Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 about,

Doingthebobs has one for sale on the forum at the moment link

I'm hoping someone else will step in and buy it to remove the temptation


But John's advice seems sound. My experience with the kit lens was good, and folk who have the 16-45 speak very highly of it.
Edited by Northgrain: 15/02/2013 - 16:23
Smeggypants
Posted 15/02/2013 - 17:59 - Helpful Comment Link
I can highly recommend the Sigma 17-70 2.8 to 4.5. Much better than the 18-55mm kit lens.
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
Blincodave
Posted 15/02/2013 - 21:05 Link
I would go for the Pentax 16-45 too. Excellent lens.
Posted 15/02/2013 - 22:45 Link
What do you base this on blincodave, do you own one, or ever used one, had two copies and where no better than the 18-55mm wr..
Blincodave wrote:
I would go for the Pentax 16-45 too. Excellent lens.

Blincodave
Posted 15/02/2013 - 23:21 Link
Blueforever wrote:
What do you base this on blincodave, do you own one, or ever used one, had two copies and where no better than the 18-55mm wr..
Blincodave wrote:
I would go for the Pentax 16-45 too. Excellent lens.


I've had two in the past, very sharp (especially the second one) but I have also had a couple of excellent copies of the 18-55. The extra width is also useful.
davidstorm
Posted 15/02/2013 - 23:38 Link
Pentax DA 16-45. For the money it's available at today I doubt that it can be beaten for IQ vs. value for money. Most of my gallery images are with this lens - I never leave home without it. Superb in almost every respect, except when shooting into the sun, which you don't do very often anyway.

Regards
David
Flickr

Nicola's Apartments, Kassiopi, Corfu

Some cameras, some lenses, some bits 'n' bobs
ShepProudfoot
Posted 15/02/2013 - 23:48 Link
Smeggypants wrote:
I can highly recommend the Sigma 17-70 2.8 to 4.5. Much better than the 18-55mm kit lens.

This was another option I was thinking of.

I'll take the 18-55 out tomorrow and give it another chance. Maybe I'm expecting too much, especially when comparing it to my DA35mm 2.4 which is so much sharper.

The zoom ring (or whatever it's called) on the 18-55mm does have quite a bit of give along the length of the lens, a few mm at least. Would this affect it?

I took this yesterday with 18-55 mm, although it was using the in camera HDR
Comment Image
Pentax K-R, DA35mm f2.4, DA 16-45mm f4 and DA L 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6
ShepProudfoot
Posted 18/02/2013 - 12:35 Link
johnriley wrote:
I'm wondering why you can't get a decent picture from the 18-55mm, which is a good lens capable of good results. It may be damaged or a poor example.

It might be worth trying another 18-55mm if possible.

For about £150 you might find a used Pentax 16-45mm f/4 lens. If so, it's a uperb optic and would be an excellent upgrade.

My 18-55mm came bundled with my K-R, I think it's the DA L mark I version (at work so can't check). I didn't get a hood with it.

Is the mark II or WR version much better?
Pentax K-R, DA35mm f2.4, DA 16-45mm f4 and DA L 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6

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